Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Prehistoric pals hit the seas for an exciting adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
Based on 51 kid reviews
Kids say this installment stands out in the series due to its mix of humor and character development, making it enjoyable for both children and adults. While some find it less compelling than earlier entries, many appreciate its positive messages about family, friendship, and resilience, with notable performances from new characters like Granny and Diego's love interest, Shira.
- humor and character development
- positive messages
- suitable for family
- mixed opinions
- notable performances
- mild scary elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In ICE AGE: CONTINTENTAL DRIFT, Scrat's (voiced by Chris Wedge) neverending pursuit of the almighty acorn leads him to the Earth's core, where he inadvertently causes prehistoric Earth's single supercontinent to break up into smaller pieces. Before things literally fall apart, Manny (Ray Romano) and his wife, Ellie (Queen Latifah), must deal with (stereo)typical adolescent defiance from their teen daughter, Peaches (Keke Palmer), who wants to impress heartthrob mammoth Ethan (hip-hop star Drake), even if it means dumping her faithful best friend, a molehog named Louis (Broadway star Josh Gad). When the Earth begins to shake, Manny, Diego the saber-toothed tiger (Denis Leary), Sid the goofy sloth (John Leguizamo), and his senile Granny (Wanda Sykes) are stuck on an iceberg that flows out to sea, where they encounter a band of pirates led by the menacing Captain Gutt (Peter Dinklage), an ape with no interest in the trio's desire to reunite with the rest of their herd.
Is It Any Good?
This isn't the most inspired film in the series, but these characters are like comfort food -- pleasingly familiar. The original threesome is now middle-aged, and with their age come new problems, particularly for overprotective father Manny. The new setting (at sea) doesn't leave room for much breathtaking animation, but the action sequences are pretty spectacular in 3-D, even if the story is a little flimsy. At least Scrat gets more screen time than ever (and if there's an animated creature bound to tickle every single member of the audience's funny bone, it's the Sisyphean Scrat).
Ice Age: Continental Drift's new characters/storylines are both hit and miss -- things fall flat with the teens (Louis and Peaches are cute, but the young mammoth clique featuring the voices of Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Glee star Heather Morris is just an annoying attempt to capture the tween audience), but the addition of Granny is rather genius. The addled but hilarious sloth grandma is by far the breakout new character, and her silly comments and constant muttering will win kids over and make even jaded parents laugh aloud. Girls will also be taken with the low-key love story that develops between Diego and Shira (Jennifer Lopez), a pirate tigress who needs a lesson in the meaning of camaraderie. While it's not the best animated adventure you'll see, Ice Age 4 is sure to please the kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ice Age: Continental Drift's defining message about the meaning of family. What defines a family? How is Sid's "biological" family a disappointment compared to his herd?
Is Peaches a believable teenager? Why are teens embarrassed by their parents? How do Peaches and Manny reconcile their difference of opinion?
Do the Ice Age movies feel complete now, or would you like to see another one? How does Continental Drift compare to the three others? Which one is your favorite?
How do the characters in Ice Age: Continental Drift demonstrate courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 13, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : December 11, 2012
- Cast : Denis Leary , John Leguizamo , Ray Romano
- Directors : Mike Thurmeier , Steve Martino
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , Animals ( Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals ) , Pirates
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild rude humor and action/peril
- Last updated : October 15, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate